At this point, it is difficult to be surprised by any move the Raiders make. The writing for Irvin’s release had essentially been on the wall following their embarrassing loss to the San Francisco 49ers. The veteran’s playing time had started to dwindle in recent weeks and ultimately culminated with a mere nine snaps against San Francisco.

The reason behind Irvin’s limited action is likely the result of the looming rebuild in Oakland. He had registered six tackles, three sacks, and a forced fumble in the 2018 campaign while largely being relegated to third-down situations. That said, there is no doubt that the Raiders already-lackluster pass-rush will take a hit moving forward. However, Oakland’s struggles will likely not deter any team from bringing the veteran aboard.

Irvin’s release just further solidifies the notion that head coach Jon Gruden is ready to clean house. The speculation started when he traded Khalil Mack to the Chicago Bears prior to the season. It was essentially confirmed when they traded Amari Cooper to the Dallas Cowboys. The Raiders now seem intent on clearing as much cap space as possible while giving some of the younger players on the roster a chance to prove themselves. Unfortunately, it appears as though they may be in for a rough second half of the season.